The Montubios, as the mestizos of Ecuador’s coastal lowlands call themselves, celebrate October 12 not as America’s Columbus Day, or Latin America’s Día de la Raza, but as Día de los Montubios. And not just on that day but over three. I watched all three days and found them all worth my photographer’s time. Still, the first day was the most exciting. I did not see any foreigners there, nor did I notice Andean Ecuadoreans, but the event, playing out most famously in Salitre, a small town at a 40-minute taxi ride from Guayaquil, is very local.
That first day featured a
morning parade and an afternoon rodeo. Circling the small town, the parade
was dedicated entirely to groups of folkloric dancers of all ages and
backgrounds.
The day started quietly
with elegant amazons riding through the streets of Salitre, waiting to join the
parade and obviously proud of displaying their ample dresses, which covered
their horses as in medieval times. Each of the numerous dance groups was headed
by a motorized tricycle taxi broadcasting the lively music needed to support
the colorful dancers. Though I was never a fan of parades, I enjoyed that one.
For pictures of the rodeo
that day go to my April 18 post:
http://victorenglebertphotography.blogspot.com/search?q=ecuador+rodeo+
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